The People’s Watchdog Newsletter - July 5

This week’s Common Cause newsletter is just a 6.5 minute read at 800 words.

Sunday, July 5, 2026 👋 Hi Pamela! Happy Sunday. Here’s to 250 years of the United States of America. In the Watchdog Newsletter, we share what you need to know to hold power accountable from the nonpartisan source you can trust. This watchdog doesn’t give in to pressure from presidents. This week’s Common Cause newsletter is just a 6.5 minute read at 800 words. 🇺🇸 Celebrating Democracy for 250 Years ... And Counting This Fourth of July marked America’s 250th birthday. This milestone invites us to celebrate the freedoms generations before us fought to secure and recommit to protecting the democracy that makes those freedoms possible. This week, we’re also celebrating two important victories. First, the Supreme Court preserved longstanding vote-by-mail practices that allow states to count ballots postmarked by Election Day and received shortly afterward. This decision protects voters who follow the rules and vote on time, and ensures their ballots aren’t tossed just because of delays beyond their control. The Court also struck down President Trump’s attempt to change the 14th Amendment’s guarantee of birthright citizenship through executive order. The Constitution is clear: a president cannot erase a constitutional right with the stroke of a pen. These rulings protected our fundamental rights, but neither fight is finished. Congress still needs to pass nationwide voting protections. And attacks on immigrants, voters, and communities of color continue in courts and statehouses across the country. For 250 years, the American story has been shaped by the people pushing our democracy to live up to its promises for everyone. Join us in the fight to continue pushing our democracy forward. 🚨 The Case Against Todd Blanche Keeps Growing The Attorney General is supposed to enforce the law fairly and independently. President Trump’s nominee for Attorney General, Todd Blanche, has repeatedly shown that he would use the Justice Department to protect Trump and his political allies instead of serving the American people. As Acting Attorney General, Blanche helped create a $1.8 billion fund that could distribute taxpayer money without congressional oversight and pursued a deal that would shield Trump, his family, and his associates from audits or prosecution. His handling of the Epstein files has also been marked by secrecy, legal failures, and serious questions about whether he was protecting the people or the president. Opposition is now growing across the political spectrum. The conservative Society for the Rule of Law Institute and the National Review have joined Common Cause in warning that Blanche has failed to demonstrate the independence and integrity the job requires. The Senate must reject his nomination. Americans deserve an Attorney General who works for the people, not as the president’s personal fixer. 📖 New Substacks, Hot Takes Common Cause recently launched two new Substack series that make complex democracy issues easier to understand. Their latest installments take on government surveillance and the conspiracy theories threatening our voting rights. ⬇️ In Pop Congress, Senior Director of Legislative Affairs Preston Mitchum connects politics and pop culture to explain what Congress is doing and why it matters. The latest installment examines FISA and the dangers of expanding government surveillance without stronger protections for our privacy and civil liberties. In Reading Between the Lines, Senior Policy Director for Voting and Fair Representation Dan Vicuña cuts through the political noise to give readers a breakdown of the latest fights over voting rights and representation. The newest installment explains how baseless mail-voting conspiracy theories reached the Supreme Court and put millions of voters at risk. Catch up on our latest posts and subscribe to our Substack here. 📱 Our Favorite Post 👀 ICYMI We're working so hard to protect our democracy, we could write you a novel instead of a newsletter. Instead, here are the top headlines you don't want to miss: California 🐻: We’re pushing back against a bill that would make public records slower, harder, and more expensive for the people to access. Learn more. Indiana 🏀: Common Cause is fighting for the people and challenging new proof-of-citizenship rules that burden naturalized citizens, threaten voter privacy, and put eligible voters at risk. Read more here. North Carolina 🛩️: Common Cause and our partners helped slow down a sweeping elections bill that would create new barriers for voters, including military and overseas voters. Learn more about our work here. Pennsylvania 🔔: We secured another legal victory protecting Pennsylvania voters’ private information from federal overreach. Read more about the win here. 📊 By the Numbers 🗞️ Kicker Quote 👕 Wear Your Values If you're not following Common Cause, you’re not getting the truth. If you were forwarded this newsletter and want to sign up too, click here. For updates, follow us on X [Twitter], Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, Substack, Facebook, and TikTok. Common Cause is a leader in fights that matter at the local and state level. Your support helps us fight special interests, hold elected officials accountable, and build a better democracy for all Floridians. DONATE Interested in volunteering with our Action Team? Sign up here. 333 3rd Ave N, Unit 427 St. Petersburg Fl, 33701 202.833.1200 https://commoncause.org Common Cause’s work to defend and strengthen our democracy is powered by members like you. 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